Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-04-08
Execution in Cuba.

Indian-were shot March % on the outskirts
of Santiago de Cuba at place made famous
by the shooting of the crew ofthe Virginus.
Two years ago they conspired to capture a
train OF pack mues laden with cocoa on a
road near the city. They surprised the
driver aud his assistant, mere lad, cut
them down with machetes, tied them to
trees, and practised shocking and revolving
cruelties on their victims until they were
dead Later they sold the cocoa to Span
iaid from Catalonia for S6S and divided the
money between them. The mules they
turned loose. he three men and the Span
lard were arrested and brought to trial. The
wealthy Spaniaid got ell with ten years III
the chain gang, but The murcerers were
condemned TO death By shooting pardon
was asked for and refused by the Queen Of
Spain. On the morning of execution tho
men, according 10 The Spanish custom, were
placed in the chapel of the prison in charge
of priests and friars. They sat the entire
day smoking, surrounded by company OF
soldiers, priests, aud idle lockers on.
Juan Soearres the Indian, was
savage looking fellow. He was short
ard thick sell with massive
frame and singuIarly foibdding face.
He stared at the throng with alb
solute indifference Next to him sat Juan
Jigue, u 1.-THE, cnrly-headed, intelligent, look
ing mula:to. He smoked his cigar and
sazed about with the utmost stolidity. Juan
Come, the leader, was thick set, bright
eyed mulatto, about 80 years old, strong
and thick Tipped, with an ugly scar extend
ing over his forehead. He gazed about in
bold and defiant way. From Tina to time
the condemned men conyersed with the
priests, and at the proper hour received the
last rites of the Catholic Church. The pre-
viou5 night Gomez made public confession,
acl,nowiedgi that he had killed ten men,
and that he was ready to die that his
mother had seven more sons like him. who
would aveuge his death. The numbering
proclivities in that family are hereditary.
The father was most notorious murderer.
All the previous day crowds flocked to see
the nen. The execution had been fixed for
6 a. TO-, but was delayed until 1.30
o. m. At II a m. detachments of police
and the Guardia CiVile mounted police
reached the prison, followed by four compa-
nies of the Fourth Regiment of Spain. Soon
afterward the procession left the prison, the
Guardia Civile preceding. Then came the
crucitix, priests, and prisoners, foot soldiers,
and guards, the whole followed by the Span
ish Infantry. The prisoners were in
small cart dragged by mule. Gomez
acted like drunken man on the way to the
scene OF the shooting, talking incessantly.
Jigue's courage gave out, and he nearly faint
ed when he was put into the cart. Fully
1000 persons accompanied the procession
on the way to the Matadero, or public
slaughter house There the troops formed
three sides of large square, the fourth face
being made By stone wall ofthe Matadero.
The square formed, the procession of the
clergy ard the condemned men marched in.
Two buele calls were sounded and the SOL
diers sprang to attention" The firing
party. numbering twenty.four men, armed
with Remington rifles, took their places.
The prisoners and clergy gathered near the
cracfx. Son the priests withdrew and the
three prisoners knelt with their faces to the
wall and their backs to the firing party. Go
mez said MY mother has seven, and am
the most cowardly of all for allowing mysalf
to be killed before so many people. Sir
priest, give me drop of rum." He got his
drink. At the first voley all fell. shot
through the head and body. Gomez rolled
over as though in pain, and two more bu.
lets were put in him. The Indian still
showed little life, and soldier coolly
stepped to the front and deliberately fired a
bullet through bis head A cart came IN Tor
the bodies and all was over.